Method of and apparatus for making spray from liquids and commingling the same with gases



UIDS AND COMMINGLING 4 Shams-Sheet 1 Jmy w, w23.

N.` C'. CHRISTENSEN METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING SPRAY FROM LIQ THE SAME WITH GASES Filed May 27 1919 AND GOMMINGLING suny 17, w23,

N. C. CHRISTENSEN METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING SPRAY FROM LIQUIDS THE SAME WITH GASES Filed May 2'7 1919 4 Sheetsg-Sheet 2 July l?, 1923.

NGLING N. C. CHRISTENSEN METHOD oF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING SPRAY FROM LIQUIDS AND COMMI THE SAME WITH GASES Filed May 27 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 QUIDs AND COMMINGLING Juny 117, 1923.

A N. C. CHRISTENSEN METHOD 0F AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING SPRAY FROM LI THE SAME WITH GASES Filed May 27 4 Sheats-Sheet 4 TORNEYS.

Patented July l?, i923,

UNT@ STATES 'NIELS C. OHBISTENSEN, OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH.

METHOD OF AN D APPARATUS FOR MAKING SPRAY FROM LIQUID@ MD 00Min ll-2GmG THE SAME WITH GASES.

Application led May 27, 1919. Serial No. 300,185.

To all w hom t may conceww Be it knownthat I, NmLs C. CHRIsTnNsEN, a citizen of the United States, residlng at Salt Lake City, in the county of Salt Lake and State of Utah, have invented certain new and useful MethodsV of and Apparatus for Making S ray from Liquids and Com- -mingling the ame with Gases, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to methods and devices for making a spray from liquids, and for bringing liquid spray into intimate contact with aseous or vaporous media in order to bring a out the absorption of some of the constituents of said gaseous media in said liquid, or to remove some solid constituents carried by said media, or to bring about the cooling of said gaseous media by evaporation due to contact with said, gaseous medium, or the condensation of said vaporous medium by contact with said liquid medium. My process 'and apparatus may be used for the absorption of acids or ammonia in the metallurgical or chemical industries, for purposesV such as those for which cooling and absorption towers are now used; for the aeration and oxygenation or oxidation of solutions or pulps-in the same lfields or in' sewage treatment; for the removal of solid particles such as dust from' gases, such as is now done by different-types of gas scrubbers; for cooling solutions or water such as is now done .by different forms of cooling towers; for the condensation of steam, such as isnow done by different types of condensers.

I, For all these purposes .it is necessary that a very large surface of liquid be exposed to the gaseous medium, and in most of them that a counter current of liquid and gaseous medium be established.- O nly two methods of securing a large surface of liquid have been found at all economical, first the passin of the liquid through a tower filled wit material to distribute the liquid over a large surface, and second the forcing of the liquid from a nozzle as a fine spray. In the {irsta good counter-current can be secured.' The second is of little use where a counter-current is desired. The first requires the erection of very large and expensive towers and has the disadvantage that in counter current work the liquid can only come into contact with the as once and this system is therefore relatively inflexible, and with acid proof construction is very expensive. The second requires the expenditure of a very large amount of ower to secure an ecient spray.

y y my methodand apparatus, l avoid the large expense of towers and the ine'xibility of the tower system and also avoid the large expenditure of power of the spray nozzle v system. Beside these advantages l secure a reat flexibility in operation in-that the iquid may bebrought into contact with 'the gaseous medium as many times as desired without destroying the counter current effect between the two.

My method and apparatus bring about these results by the formation of a spray by. a very simple mechanical means and by a very simple method.

My apparatus consists in general of a cylindrical surface arranged to revolve Vwith or around a central horizontal shaft 4or axis and supported above a body of liquid so thatu the upper surface of the body of liquid touches and'is nearly tangent to the lowermost part of the cylindrical surface and so that the cylindrical surface dips to a slight extent only into the liquid,A The method by which the rain or spray is made consists in revolving the cylindrical surface about its axis at the proper speed with the lower part of the cylindrical surface in contact with the upper surface of the body of l liquid or dipping slihtxly into the liquid. y

enthe revolving cylindrical surface touchesdahe surface of the liquid or dips into the liquid' very slightly a film of the latter .adheres to the cylindrical surface and, as

such surface revolves, the liquid is thrown` the greater the amount, and the greater the amount of cylindrical surface in contact with the liquid the coarser the rain or spra and the greater the amount. The cylinder s ould dip into the liquid but very slightly as the power necessary to turn the cylinder is very eatly increased and the spraying e'ect argely destroyed if even asmall ortion of the cylinder is below the level of t e surface of the liquid.' The eect 4of allowing the lower portion of the cylinder to dip into the li uid is Ato carry a massof water around with the cylinder and to agitato the body of li uid thus wastin the power applied to the cy 'ndern The cy mdrical surface should be r f' nearly tangent to the surface of the l y of liquid so that a very slight change in the level of the liquid surface makes a largey chaugein the amount of cylindrical surface touching the li uid. y

lt should be noted t at the action of the cylindrical surface in my invention is not in the nature of a. pulverizin action due to the n act ofthe cylindrica surface with the we of liquid but is a relatively gentle action in which the.. revolving surface quietlycarries u a iilm of water from the top of "1 thefy o liquid with practically no dislill..

-turhance of the mass of liquid and discharges the water thus carried up in the form of .a rain or spray of more or less nely divided .particles .of the liquid. By

. the term s ray I do not .mean the mist of very tine dproplets such asis formed by the pulverizing action caused by the impact of a yliquid on rapidly moving solid surfaces and forming, a heterogeneous mass of fine droplets. The action of the revolving cylinder in my invention is entirely dilerentwhen operated in the proper manner and at a correct or 'suitable speed the cylinder throws od' a rain of drops from .practically the 'entire surface of the pulley, the continuous discharge of these drops forming a `solid fan of rain or spray (of agdefinite sha and of the same length as the cylinderllein the space surrounding kthe cylinder. The size and shape ofthe fan (i. e. in cross section) will depend upon the size and speed of revolution of the cylinder, the larger the cylinder and the higher the speed the larger the fan. The denseness of the rain or spray will depend upon the depth to which the cylinder dips into theliqu'id and the speed of revolution, thek deeper the cylinder dips into the liquid (within the relatively narrow limits later specified) the more dense `the rain orspray thrown by the cylinder,

and the higherl the speed the more liquid will be thrown from the cylinder. The size of the drops of liquid thrown by the cylinder and composing the rain or spray will also vary to a considerable degree, as noted above, with the depth to which the cylinder dips into the liquid and with the speed of the cylinder, the deeper the cylinder dips intothe liquid the larger the drops, i. e. the coarser the rain or spray, and the faster the speed the finer the drops, i. e. the finer the rain or spray. g

This effect of immersing or dipping the lower part of the cylinder to any considerable depth into the liquid varies with the size ofthe cylinder and the speed of revomust justA touch l i f rasca lution of the cylinder.' The 'smallerl the cylinder the smaller the depth to which the cylinder may be dipped without distorting' the fan of rain or spray and destroying the spra ,'ng eiect, and the slower the speed of revo ution, the smaller is the depth of dipping into the liquid which distorts the fan of rain. or spray and destroys the spraying eect. With small cylinders u to three inches in diameter the surface o? the liquid the cylinder as otherwise the spraying eect is destroyed. With a four inch .diameter cylinder revolving at 1350 R. P. M., the distortion of the fan of rainV or .spray begins at a depth of one eighth inch, at three sixteenths` of an inch half the fan of spray disappears and at one quarter of an inch only a third of the fan of rain or spray remains, and even when this diameter cylinder revolves at 2700 R. P. M. and dips into the liquid only one half inch, all but one third' of the fan of rain or spray is destroyed. With a six inch diameter cylinder revolving at 1070 R. P. M. the distortion of the fan of rain or spray begins at a depth of one quarter of an inch and at one half inch only half of the fan of rain or spray remains, and revolving at 1340 R. P. M., the distortion begins at less than a dipping depth of one half inch and at three quarters of an inch less than half of the fan of rain or spray remains. With an 8" diameter cylinder revolving at 760 the distortion of the fan begins at a depth of one half inch, one third of the fan is one, and at three quarters of an inch dept of dipping only a one third of the fan of rain or spray remains, and with this diameter cylinder reyolving at 1070 R. P. M. the distortion begins at a dipping depth of one half inch and at three fourths of an inch one/half the rain or spray is gone and at lone inch less than one third of the fan remains. With a twelve inch diameter pulley revolving at 485 R. P. M..the distortion of the fan of spray begins at a depth of one fourth of an inch., at one halfl inch one fourth of the fan .is destroyed, at' three fourths of an inch only halt` the yfan of rain or spray remains and at one inch only one third of the. fan remains; revolving kat 690 R. P. M., the distortion of the fan of rain or. spray commences ,at a dipping depth of one half inch, at three fourths peared and at one inch half the' fan is gone;

revolving at 760 R. P. M. the distortion of the fan ofbrain or spray beginsat a depth of three fourths of an inch, at one inch one third ofthe fan disappears and at a depth of an inch and a half less than half the fan remains. lWith a sixteenth inch diameter cylinder revolving at 490 R. P. M., the distortion of the fan of rain or spray begins at a depth of an inch andat an inch and one half one fourth of the fan is gone and at two inches nearly one half of the fan has It should be articularly noted however that even before t e distortion of the fan of rain or spray commences, as the cylinder dips deeper into the water the rain or spray becomes much coarser on the side of the fan toward which the bottom of the cylinder 1s moving so that the surface of the liquid in the drops in the spray does not increase even though the amount of liquid thrown by the cylinder increases, and thus the real spraying e'ect is destroyed.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the cylinder should dip only slightly into the liquid, the maximum depth for efficient rain or spray throwing increasing with the size of cylinder and increasing with the eed of revolution of the cylinder. It will a so be apparent from the -foregoing that when the cylinder dips to any considerable depth the spraying eect and the efficiency of the cylinder as a rain or spray making machine is entirely destroyed. This will also be apparent from the following data on the power consumption of cylinders dipping to dii'erent depths. For example, a 12" diameter c linder revolving at a speed of 725 R. P. and dipping to a depth of one sixteenth ofan inch throws a light uniform fan of rainer s pray and uses approximately ten watts per foot length of cylinder, or impeller, to throw this rain or spiy; at a depth of one eighth inch a heavier fan of rain or spray is thrown taking about twenty watts; at a depth of one fourth of an inch a very dense uniform fan of rain or spray is thrown requiring approximately forty. watts;at one half inch a very dense fan of rain or spray is thrown with considerably coarser drops on the side toward which the lower part of the cylinder is moving and using about 100 watts, at a depth of one inch the fan of rain or spray is-distorted and one third of the fan Ais gone (the distortion taking place from the side toward which the bottom of the cylinder is moving and only a mass of very large drops beingv thrown on this side of the cylinder) and about 175 watts are used in throwing the rain or spray; dipping to a depth of one and a half inches less than half of the fan of rainor spray remains and approximately 2,5()` watts are consumed; at. a depth of 2" the fan of rain or spray has. practically disappeared (only about one fourth being left which is thrown tothe side toward which the top of the cylinder is moving) and about 400 watts are used; at a depth of three inches only a splashing of a lmass of water results andy the spraying effect has disappeared and about 525 watts are used to turn the cylinder. From the foregoing it will be readily seen that beyond a dippin depthof one fourth inch the etliciency o the a paratus decreases rapidly, at one inch t-he an of rain or spray is'dstorted and partly destroyed and at the same -time nearly twenty .times as much power is used as is used at a depth of 11;; of an inch and over four times Ias much as is used at a depth of one fourth inch. Beyond a depth of one inch the eiiiciency of the apparatus decreases rapidly to practically zero at three inches with a consumption of power of over fifty times that lrequired with a depth of one sixteenth of an inch and over thirteen times as much as that required at one fourth of an inch depth of dipping.

With larger cylinders the results are similar. yFor example, a sixteen inch diameter cylinder revolving at 490 R. P. M. dipping to a depth of one sixteenth'of an inch throws a uniform light fan of rain or spray and requires about 1% watts per foot length of cylinder or impeller; at a depth of one eighth inch a heavy uniform fan of rain or spray is thrown requiring about 25 watt-s; at one fourth inch a dense fan of rain or sprayvsthrown using about 5() watts; at

a depth of one half inch a very dense fanY of rain or spray composed largely of coarser drops on the side toward which the bottom y of the cylinder is moving is thrown requiring 4about 80 watts; at a depth of one inch the drops on the side of the cylinder toward which the lower part ofthe cylinder is moving are still coarser and the distortion of the fan of spray commences and about 160 watts are used, from this depth the distortion and vdecrease in the sizeof the fan of spray becomes more pronounc d until at three inches the spraying effect. s practically gone and about y750 watts are used in turnin the cylinder. It is thus seen that with t is size cylinder beyond a dipping depth of three fourths of an inch, the usefulness of the a' paratus as a spray throwerl rapidly diminis es until at a depth of three inches the efficiency is practically zero. At

a depth of one inch the spraying effect begins to deteriorate very rapidly and over twelve times as much power is used as is required at a depth of one vsixteenth of an inch and over six times as much as is required at one fourth inch.

' The depth to which the cylinder is allowed to dip into the liquid will be different according to the purpose for which the spray is used and will vary with the size and speed of the cylinder in order to secure the desired results. For most purposes however l have found that with smaller pulleys a depth of one sixteenth to one eighth inch ,frives the best results, with a twelve inch diameter pulley one sixteenth to one fourth usefulness of the invention as a sprayingA or rainmaking device isdestroyed if the c-ylinder dips vto any considerable depth into the liquid.

The mechanical eliiciency of my apparatus, i.- e. its efficiency with regard to the power consumed` in making the spray, is relatively very high if'used in the roper manner. To secure al high eiiciency 1t 'is necessary that the ilm of Water removed by the cylindrical surface be removed with as little disturbance of the body of liquid as possible. If the body of thel liquid is' kept in agitation this energy thusused `is wasted. I have found that the least agitation of the body of liquid is secured by means of the cylindrical sur-- Aface being kept nearly tangent to or-dipping very slightly into the surface of the liquid, as by this means the body ofllquld is practically .undisturbed With discs lor similar devices, however,.this is not the caseas these cause a considerable flow ofliquid in the direction of the movement of the edge of the disc touching the liquid. This is due to friction of the waterv on the sides of the discs, and this is avoided by the use of the cylindrical surface. I have also found that the discs throw a relatively coarse stream of liquid in the direction of the motion of the disc while with the cylindrical surface this isavoided 'toa great degree. It is the relatively fine rain or spray `thrown approximately uniformly' from the entire surface of the cylinder that is the most efficient, and I have found that the cylindrical surface proves more satisfactory in the use of power than an. form of apparatus which pulverizes t e liquid byimpact against solid surfaces, as is done vwith revolving paddles and discs and other dev'icesof various kinds, and I have also found that the cylindrical surface gives a fan of rain or spray which is far more uniform in character andl in dis tribution around the spraying device.

The general arrangement of my apparatus l and the method of using it for different purposes is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, wherein,

Fig. 1 illustrates theV apparatus where it is necessary or desirable to secure a counter current of liquid and gas or vaporous media;

Fig. 2 a cross section thereof;

Fig. 3 a detail section;

Lacasse Fig. 7 a longitudinalvertical ,section of'l the same;

Figs. S and 9 vertical sections similar to Fig. 6 and showing a number ofl impellers located in a housing;

Fig. 1d a plan view illustrating a com* bination of such housings to secure a modified counter current between the liquid and gases;

Fig. 11 a longitudinal vertical section` illustrating the invention when used in conc junction with vacuum or pressure;

Fig. 12 a transverse sectional view of auchy apparatus;

Fig. 13 a transverse vertical section illustrating an arrangement of the invention for.

a large installation adapted to handle a large volume of gases;

o Fig. 14 a plan view thereof with the housing or'cover removed; and

, Fig. 15 a detailed vertical sectional viewl taken on the line A-A of Fig. 14.

In the drawings 1 indicates the cylindrical surface which is truly circular'in cross section supported by a suitable spider with the arrow showing the direction of rotation: 2, the shaft on` which or' about which the cylinder revolves; 3, the enclosing tube or cylinder or passageway; 4, the space occupied by the spray and the gaseous or vaporous medium with arrows showing the general direction of 'flow' of the gaseous medium; y5, the liquid medium or pulp with arrdws showing the Ageneral direction of flow; 6 projections on inside of the tube or passage 3.

The manner of operation of the invention as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, is as follows:

.The liquid or pulp 5 enters the horizontal tube, preferably cylindrical in shape, at 7 and flows through the tube and is discharged at 8. The surface of the liquid or pulp is maintained at such a level that the surface4 of the cylinder (or cylinders) l 1 touches or dips slightly into the surface of the liquid. The cylindrical surface 1, or surfaces which is formed by the outside of the cylinders supported on the sha-ft 2 which revolves in the bearings 12 at the desired number of revolutions per minute.

The number of revolutions per minute will depend on the diameter of the cylindrical surface, distance towhich the spray must be thrown,l and the character of the spray aeeaaee desired. Usinga 6 foot diameter enclosing tube or passage 3 I have found that a cyl inder 1 twelve to fourteen inches 1n dlameter revolving at from five'hundred to seven hundred revolutions per minute gave. -the best results. As shown, the shaft carrying the cylinders is placed somewhat to one slde of a vert-ical line through the center of the tube 3 in order to secure a more uniform distribution of spray. The gaseous or vaporous medium enters at and Hows through the tube in the dlrec-tlon indicated and the waste gases are discharged at 10. The general direction of flow of gaseous medium is opposite to the general direction of flow of the liquid medium. The action of the apparatus is as follows: flow of liquid and gaseous media in opposlte dlrection in the cylinder is established and power is applie tothe shaft 2, causing 1t to revolve at the desired speed. As the cylindrical surface 1 turns in contact with the surface of the liquid a thin film of liquid is carried upv by revolving surface and is thrown off by centrifugal force in a:- relatively ine rain or spray. This rain or spray passes through the gaseous medium in the space 4 and strikes the lnside of the containing tube or passa e 3 and runs olf the projections 6 and alls in relatively large drops through the gaseous medium again and into the body of the liquid 5 and is again picked up by the cylindrical surface and passe: through the same operation as many times asis desired. Avery uniform rain or spray is thus secured filling the entire cross-section of the tube 3, and also filling the tube from end to end. A very intimate mixture of the gaseous or vaporous medium and the liquid or pulp is thus secured with the expenditure of very little power and a very efficient counter .current effect secured. The liquid may also be brought into contact with the gaseous medium as many times as desired. The intimate mixture and counter current effect thus secured make this extremely eflicient for the absorption of acids or .ammonia from gases or for the removal of dust from gases, or for the bringing of gases or vapours into intimate mixture and contact with a liquid or pulp for any purpose whatsoever.

1f it is not necessary or not desired to secure a counter current effect between the two media, as in cooling solutions or water as in steam engine practice, etc., or in aerating solutions or pulps or sludges as in sewage treatment, my method and vapparatus may be used without the enclosing: tube or passage 3, with the liquid in a' pond or trough with the cylinder shaft supported above the liquid so that the cylindrical surface touches the surface of the liquid, or dips slightly into the li uid in the pond or trough. Thus for coo ing condensing wateri` or aerating sewage the M, f may be entirely in the open above a pon tank or trough and the rain or spray he thrown into the air and fall back into e pond. This makes a very simple and ecient method and device for the purposes named and especially Yin the treament of sewage fills a long felt want for a simple and eiicient method of aeration.

The invention may also he used for the condensation of steam, i. e. as a condenser, the cooling water being brot inte intimate contact with the steam and edecting a very rapid and complete condensation.

In this case the tube 3 would have to be Y closed in such. a manner that the vaeu would be maintained. The action of my invention in the open (i. e. not enclosed in a housing) and in the different types of tubes or housings, and in closed containers under suction or p is illustrated in the accompanying dra Fig. 4 shows a vertical cross section of theapparatus and the rain or spray as it appears when no housing or tube as'3 is used to contain the gases andv rain or spray. Fi 5 isa longitudinal 'section of the 's he eylindrlcal surfaces or spraying pellers 1 revolving on the central shaft 2 are supported by the bearings 12, at a suitable level, in a horizontal position. `e liquid surface 13 in the pond or trou h 14 is maintained constantl at such a leve that the cylinders or impel ers 1 will be nearly tangent to the surface but so that they dip slightly into the liquid. The cylinders orto a depth of about one-fourth vof an inch or 'less, has been found--very ecient.` This arrangement of my invention throws a solidV fan of rain or spray 16 the full width of the impeller and of the shape shown in d,

extending approximately ten feet on each side of the impeller and to a height of approximately eight feet at the hig est point. The rain or spray on the side toward which the lower part of the impeller is moving (as indicated by the arrow) is somewhat coarser than on the other side but thefan ofiain orspray as a whole is very uniform in characterY and distribution.' When opera as described this arrangement throws liquid (in the form of rain Ior spray) at the rate of approximately thirtygallons per minute per foot len h of impeller and 4requires about il? H. per foot length of .impeller to throw the spray (i. e. exclusive of the hamer used in drivin the mechanism when no spray is thrown Di'erent diameter cylinders may be used for different purposes. For throwing a very lar e fan of rain or spray, Afor solar evaporat1on of salt solutions and similar purposes toward the si the top ofthe cylinder is moving, this distorl cylinders as large as twenty four inches in diameter, or lar er, may be used. The largyerthe cylinder t e slower the speed of revolution necessary to throw the desired fan of rain or spray. Very small cylinders require such exact adjustment of water level and high speed of revolution and throw such a small fan of spray that they are not useful for many pur oses.

In general 1t may be said that to secure. a oo fan of spray the cylinder should revo ve at a speed withinl certain lower and upper limits. 'As the speed falls progressively lower below this lower limit the fan of rain or s ray is distorted and thrown se ofthe cylinder toward which tion increasin as the speed falls until the fan entirely lsappe'ars and only a mass of water is carried around by the cylinder. (As

Apreviously noted. a similar effect occurs by increasing the depth beyond a certain limit to which the cylinder dips into the liquid.)

- about 750 R. P. M.; an eight inch diameter cylinder about 650; a twelve inch diameter cylinder about 450; a sixteen inch diameter cylinder about 350 and a Itwenty four inch diameter cylinder about 25.0 R. P. M. As the f depth of dippinglinto the liquid increases n. P.. M

from a slight depth such as one sixteenth, or less, to greater depths the speed of revolution must also -be increased to secure a good distribution of the fan or spray. Excessively high speeds tend Vto distort the fan of spray in a direction opposite to that of the lower speeds and tend to throw ay stream of very large drops of liquid in the direction of movement of the lower part of the cylinder, and a very fine rain or s ray on the other side of the cylinder. ith Aa twelve inch diameter cylinder I havefound speeds from 500 to 800 according to the depth to which the pulley dips from one sixteenth to threeA eighthsf an inch, to be satisfactory to' form rain or sprays for manydifferent purposes. To secure a very fine rain or spray the highest speeds and operating with the cylinder dipping only one sixteenth of an inch or less gives the most efficient operation. q y`When it is desired to take full advantage of as large a part of the fan of rain or spray as plossible, a housing or tunnel or-tube 3 of t e general shape of the fan 16, but somewhat smaller in cross section than the Ycrosssection of the fan of spray, may be used, asl shown in Fig. 6. This enclosing tubemay be entirely closed except at the ends and used for counter-current work as described for the circular tube or housing 3 in Fig. 1, or the gases may be passed through the housing transversely as shown .in Fig. 6 in cases where no countercurrent effect is desired, as in gas washing or air washing to remove dust. Fig. 7 shows a vertical section of the arrangement of Fig. 6 on the center line of 'the impeller. As indicatedl by the broken lines the impeller may be of any' desired length and the housing may be of any desired width. In this arrangement the liquid in the trough 14 is kept at the required level so that the revolving impeller dipsslightly into the liquid as previously described. The impeller throws a solid fan'of rain or spray filling the entirechamber or space 4 enclosed in the housing 3. Ihe air or gas to be Washed enters the chamber at one side through a channel 15, thence through the chamber and thespray therein and out through a channel 15a at the other side. The coursev of the air or gas is indicated by the arrows 18. In making this passage the air or gas must pass through the fan of rain or spray 16, and any solidparticles are wet by the.

spray and carried down` into the trough 14 with the liquid. In this arrangement of my linvention the bottom 17 of the housingl or,

tube 3 may slope from the sides of the hous- ,ing down to the trough 14 so that the liquid in the spray is constantly returned to the trough for reuse. This form of trough 14 an/d sloping floor 17 may also be used without 'the4 cover or housing for use in the open air instead of the pond arrangement shown in Fig. 4. .As shown in`Figs. 8 and 9 an number of parallel rows of impellers or cy inders 1 may be used in this type of housing giving any desired width of housing 3 and denseness of rain or spray according to the number of rows 'of impellers used and the closeness of their spacing.l Fig. 10 shows a plan view of an arrangement of this type of housing or enclosing tube 3 which may be used to secure a kind of countercurrent flow of liquid and gaseous media. As shown this arrangement consists of a number ofhousings or compartments 3 of the type shown in Figs. 6 and 7 ,placed side by side, so that the impellers are end to end. The direction of flow of the-gases is indicatedby the arrows 18. By using a number of sections as indicateda good countercurrent effect may be secured. In all these enclosed arrangements of my invention the gaseous medium will be caused to flow through the tunnel or housing in the desired direction by suitable fans (or other suitable means). It will be Lacasse Y apparent from the foregoing that a multitu e of different arrangements of my apparatus may be made to suit any desired application of the spray.

In case it is desired to apply the liquid rain or spray to gaseous media under vac-num or pressure the container 3 will be made of a suitable design and material to withstand the pressure either internal or external. The arrangement of this kind using my invention for condensing vapors with the cold liquid is shown in Figs. 11 and'12. yIn this arrangement the vapor enters the chamber 3 through the pipe 20 and comes into contact with the spray and is condensed. The proper level of the cold liquid is maintained by a suitable overflow weir at 21. The cold condensing liquid enters through the pipe 22 and is withdrawn from. the overflow space 23 by a suitable pump (not shown) through the pipe 24.

For large installations of my invention in which it is necessary to bring very large volumes of air into contact with the ram or spray, as for large water-cooling instalf lations, the arrangement shown in 'Figs 13,

central gear 2 14 and 15 is my preferred type. In this arrangement, a numberl of impellers or 'cylinders 1 are placed at equal distances, on radii, from a central point and atv equal intervals around the circle, i. e., the axes of the cylinders radiate from a common center and are arranged with equal angles between the axes, andthe cylinders 1 are all equidistant from the center. The housing 3 consists of an annular roof 3 above the impellers 1 and is connected with a short central circular air shaft 25 by the air outflow passage 10 and is open at the periphery giving a'large inflow opening 9. A fan26 is arranged to rotate in the outlet shaft 25. The shafts 2 on which the im ellers revolve all run to the i) (which drives the impellers) on the central vertical shaft 28. The central vertical shaft 28 carries the fan 26, the impeller drive gear -27 and the lnaiirdrive gear 29.` Power is applied to the gear 29 from the shaft 32 as indicated, or directly from a motor. ,These gears are all covered by the conical housing 30 so as to he protected from the spray. Beneath each impeller 1 is a radial trough 5 extending from the inner circular iniow trough a to the outer circular outflow trough 8. The outflow from the troughs 5 is at such a level that the impellers dip into the liquid to the desired depth'. The Hoor of the annular space between the impellers slopes from a lnedian radial line or ridge 31 to the trough on each sideas indicated in Figs. 14 and 15,' the sloping surfaces being indica-ted by 17. yThe annular roof or housing 3a preferably slopes slightly downward toward the o uter periphery and is open around the entire periphery forming the circular air inflow opening 9. The impellers are spaced at such intervals apart and the roof at such a distance above the impellers, that an annular ring of rain or spray 1G completely' fills the space 4. between the annular floor 17 and the annular roof 3. The operation is as follows: For example, for water cooling, power is applied to the central driving gear 29 which causes the fan 26 and impellers to rotate at the desired speed. Water to be cooled is fed into the lnlet trough 7 and flows through the radial troughs 5 into the outlet trough 81. The impellers l throw a solid ring of rain or spray 16L filling the' annular spray space 4 between the roof 3a and floor 17 and the fan 26 draws the air from the entire peripheral inlet 9. through the ring of spray and int/o the annular outlet space 10 and discharges it through the central air shaft 25. 1t will be seen that a counter-current of water and air is secured in this arrangement and that a very large air inlet and outletis secured which makes possible the use of a `very Alarge volume of air at a very low velocity, giving a high cooling efliciency with a small expenditure of power.

It will be apparent that the direc-tion of flow of air and water may be reversed and other minor changes made. Instead of a single trough for each impeller a large annular trough may be employed commonto all the impellers. The arrangement;` illustrated is, however, preferred.

It is manifest from the foregoing that the invention is applicable to .many uses and is subject to numerous variations, and I therefore do not desire to be limited to any of the specific arrangements described, and the claims are to be interpreted in the light of this statement of the invention.

These are only a few illustrations of the uses for my process and apparatus, ,many others will suggest themselves to those working in different engineering fields, such as acid absorption, ammonia absorption, evaporating liquids, gas washing, gasoline absorption from natural gas, etc.

The design' of my apparatus as to diinenf sions and general arrangement and as todetails of construction will of courseevary greatly according to the purpose for which the apparatus is used. Many slight variations may be introduced in the design for special purposes. The kinds of material used in the construction of the apparatus will also vary with the use to which it is put. One great advantage of my invention is that the apparatus is easily made of acid proof material. The possible variations indetail of construction and arrangement are to numerous to be mentioned in a patent specification. I, therefore, do not desire to be limited in any way to the particular types of arrangement or design shown but only by the description as set forth in the appended claims.

Having described my method and apparatus what I lclaim and desire to patent is:

1. The method of spraying liquids which consists in revolving a rigid imperforate circular-cylindrical surface dipping slightly into a bOdy of liquid with its axis substantially parallel to the upper surface of said body of liquid, at such a speed about its axis that liquid continuously carried out of said body 0n said cylindrical surface, is thrown from said surface as a rain of liquid drops forming a substantially continuous fan of spray radiating from said cylindrical surface.

2. The method of securing an intimate mixture of liquid and gaseous media which consists in revolving a rigid imperforate circular-cylindrical surface, dipping slightly into a body of the liquid medium with its axis substantially parallel to the upper surface of said body of liquid, at such a Speed about its axis that liquid, continuouslyA carried out of saidbody on said cylindrical surface is thrown from said surface as a rain of liquid drops forming a substantially continuous fan of spray radiating from said cylindrical surface and mixed with the gaseous medium in the space occupied by said fan of spray.

3. The method of securing an intimate` mixture of liquid and gaseous media which consists in revolving a rigid imperforate circular-cylindrical surface dipping slightly into a body of the liquid medium with its axis substantially parallel to the upper surface of said body, at such a speed around its axis that liquid continuously carried out of said body on said cylindrical surface is thrown from said surface as a rain of liquid vdrops forming a substantially continuous fan or spray radiating from said cylindrical surface, and passing a current of the gascous medium through said fan of spray.

4. The method of securing an intimate mixture of liquid and gaseous media which consists in revolving a rigid imperforate circular-cylindrical surface dipping slightly into a body vof the liquid medium with its axis substantially parallel to the upper sur.- face of said body at such a speed around its axis that liquid continuously carried out of said body on said cylindrical' surface is thrown from said surface as a rain of liquid drops forming a substantially ycontinuous fan of spray radiating from said cylindrical surface, and passing a. current of the gaseous medium through said fan of spray in al di: rection parallel to the axis of said cylindrical surface.

5. The method of securing an intimate mixture of liquid and gaseous media, concurrent with a counter-current flow of said liquid and gaseous media, which consists in i n v l n revolving a r1g1d imperforate clrcular-cyhndrical surface dipping slightly into a body of the liquid medium,"with its axis substani liquid continuously carried out of said body on said cylindrical surface is thrown from said surface as a rain f liquid drops form' ing a substantially continuous .fan of spray radiating from said cylindrical surface, and continuously returning the sprayed liquid to said body of liquid and causing a flow of said body of liquid aty such a. rate in one direction arallel to the axis of said cylindrical sur ace, and passing a current of the gaseous mediumy through said fan of spray at such a rate in the opposite direction parallel to the axis of said cylindrical surface, that different portions of the liquid medium are sprayed into mixture with the gaseous medium a number of times during its flow from one endof said cylindrical surface to the other and each portion of gaseous medium is brought into mixture with different portions of the liquid medium in the form of spray a number of timesduring its passage through' said fan of spray.

6. In an apparatus for spraying liquid vmedia, the combination of a rigld imperfo# rate circular-cylinder arranged to revolve` about its axis with said axis in a substantially horizontal position; a container located beneath the cylinder for holding the liquid to be sprayed; means for maintaining the upper surface of the liquid at such level that the cylinder will dip to a slight extent only into the liquid; and means for revolving said cylinder at such a speed that the liquid in the container will be carried up therefrom on the outer surface of the cylinder and will be thrown from said surface as a rain of liquid drops forming a substantially continuous Vfan ofspray radiating from said surface.

7. In an apparatus for spraying liquidmedia, the combination of a rigid imperforate circularcylinder arranged to revolve about its axis with said axis in a substantially horizontal position; a -container for the liquid to be sprayed arranged below said cylinder; means to maintain the level of the liquid such that the cylinder will dip to'a slight extent only into the liquid; means arranged upon the container to return the sprayed liquid to said container; and means for revolving said cylinder at such a speed uid spray, the combination of a rigid imreo nteaaes perforate circular-cylinder errand to revolve aloout a horizontally disposed axis; a housing surroundin said cylinder and adapted to hold a ody of liquid in the lower portion thereof; means for maintaining the upper surface oi the liquid in the housing at such a level that the cylinder will dip to aslight extent only into such liquid; means tor revolving said cylinder at such a speed that the liquid will he carried up from the body on the outside surface or' the revolving cylinder and thrown therefrom as a rain of liquid drops iorming ya solid fan oil spray which substantially lls the space enclosed in the housing; and means for passing a current oi gaseous medium through the spray in mid housing.

n an apparatus for securing an intimate mixture of gaseous medium and liquid spra which comprises in combination va rigi imperlorate circular-cylinder arranged to revolve ahout a horizontally disposed axis; a housing around said cylinder and spaced therefrom, said housing heing adapted to hold ahody o/liquid in the' lower portion thereof .and arrand to return sprayed li uid to said lower portion, the walls of sai housing against which the spray isthrown being substantially parallel to the axis o the cylinder; means for maintaining Athe upper surface of a 'body of liquid inthe lower portion of said housin at such a level that the cylinder will dip slightly into such hody; means for revolvin said cylinder at such a speed that the li ui which is carried up from the hody liqui on the outside surface oli said rerol cylinder will he thrown from said surface as a rain of liquid drops orminga solid fan or spray substantially lling the space enclosed by the housing; and means for passin a current of gaseous medium through sai spray in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the cylinder.

10. ln an apparatus for securing an intimate mixture ci gaseous medium and li uid spray concurrent with a eountercurrent ow of said liquid and gaseous medium, which comprises in combination, an elongated imperio-rate circular-cylinder arranged to revolve about a substantially horizontal axis; a housing for said cylinder, the walls whereof against which the spray is thrown stand substantially parallel to the axis of the cylinder;means for maintainin a loody of liquid in the lower portion of the housing at suchk a level that the cylinder will dip slightly into said-hodgy; means for revolving said cylinder at such a speed that liquid will he carried up from the body on the outer surface of the cylinder and will he thrown from said surface as a rain of liquid drops forming a solid dan oil spraylilling the space within the housing; means lfor passing a current of gaseous medium through said l housing in one direction parallel to the axis of the cylinder; and means for introducing liquld into the housing at one end and removing it at the opposlte end so as to cause a dow of liquid through the housin in a direction opposite to the dow of sai gaseous medi. l

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